The Best Hiking Pants for Men of 2023

If you find yourself wearing the same pair of pants while hiking in the morning and running errands downtown in the evening, they’re probably winners. It’s rare to find clothes that hit the equilibrium of comfortable yet technical, lightweight but durable, and weather-resistant yet breathable, but the Ferrosi Pants ($99) nail it.

These barely register on you, but instill confidence through inclement weather and rough terrain. They clock in at a scant 10.7 ounces and cram down to the size of a softball, but have held up over many miles, and some significant off-trail bushwhacking.

When we say the Ferrosis are comfy, we mean we often choose these over sweatpants while curling up for a movie kind of comfy. Their movement-mirroring elasticity is truly a wonder, and they feel like extensions of your legs as you vault over downed trees or navigate boulder-strewn river beds. The articulated knees, brushed waistband, and drawcord cuff adjustments boost the pant’s versatility and comfort.

We wore these pants on a recent backpacking trip through the Grand Canyon, and were greatly impressed by their ability to shed light precipitation while maintaining a high level of breathability as we slogged our way out of the great ditch. Often you’ll find that pants will excel at one or the other — but rarely both.

These are admittedly hard to criticize. If you’re looking for bomb-proof invincibility, you’d be better off with something on the tougher (but heavier) end of the spectrum. But at such a light weight, the 90-denier stretch-woven nylon fabric holds its own on taxing adventures.

We found the back pockets to be a little on the small side, and we couldn’t close the zipper around something like an iPhone (only one is zippered). However, the front pockets and single-zippered hip pocket are plenty spacious and thoughtfully placed.

As some of the best-fitting pants we’ve had the pleasure of testing, the Outdoor Research Ferrosis secured a spot at the top of this list for their premium comfort, solid durability, and overall stellar design. If you’re looking for an ultralight, reliable option for extended backpacking excursions, don’t pass these by.

Columbia’s Silver Ridge Cargo Pant ($60) is a straightforward cargo pant, made of lightweight nylon ripstop fabric that is not only water-resistant but also has added UPF 50+ to block those harmful rays.

Straight lines along the inseam are graced with gusseted construction in the crotch to strengthen and add breadth to the seams. The five pockets, including a secure cargo pocket, are deep and you can store a lot of supplies in there with minimal bounce.

They also include an integrated belt, and the extra pockets have ample room to store your phone and a few snacks. You do, however, have to make some concessions at this price. The lightweight material doesn’t have any mechanical stretch or elastic fibers. And it lacks a DWR treatment, so you sacrifice durability, mobility, and weather protection.

While the Silver Ridge skimps on the bells and whistles that make many of the pants on this list better choices for more adventurous trips, the Silver Ridge is less than half the price and often goes on sale.

If you are looking for a convertible option, give Columbia’s Silver Ridge Convertible Pants a look ($70).

Last year we ranked the Abisko Midsummer Trouser as our best hiking pant overall. It ticked all the boxes: well-placed zippered pockets, ventilation, durability where you need it, and flexibility where you want it. The pants exemplify Scandinavian design with attention to detail through and through.

This past year, Fjallraven released a zip-off version ($175) of the Abisko Midsummer. As on the pant version, the butt and legs are reinforced with a Fjallraven’s G-1000 fabric. These pants are lightweight and durable, and as the name implies, are designed for hot summer days.

To preserve breathability, the pant isn’t treated with a DWR. Though Fjallraven sells a Greenland Wax you can apply it for added weather durability. On the backside of the legs, the pants are paired with a breathable, four-way mechanical stretch fabric, pairing mobility with the G-1000’s durability.

Two mesh hand pockets zip up your essentials, and a pair of well-positioned leg pockets ride up front on top of the thighs. Inside the front right pocket is a stretchy mesh sleeve just big enough for a phone.

The pockets are oversized and can swallow a lot of supplies. Overloaded, we found the contents will bounce on the legs, so pack wisely.

Like all of Fjall’s trekking pants, they lack rear pockets. We prefer it this way. Loaded rear pockets can rub on a pack and be uncomfortable when sitting around camp. They are also one of the first parts of a pant to wear out.

The zip-off zippers add 2 ounces to the convertible pants over the straight trousers, but give you the added ventilation of shorts for those hot summer days. If you don’t want to show that much leg, simply pull the cuffs over your calves and cinch them with the draw cord.

The Midsummers come in European sizes, and we found they run large, so you’ll want to consult the size guide when buying. If you buy them at one of Fjallraven’s brick-and-mortar stores, the brand will hem them for free, giving you a fully tailored fit.

While these pants are more durable than Jack Wolfskins, the larger fit and pocket bulk work against the pant, so we put them lower on the list.

They’re not the cheapest hiking pants available, but the quality and aesthetics make the Abisko Midsummers a worthwhile investment.

Black Diamond’s roots are in technical climbing gear. They’ve taken what they’ve learned on the mountain to make some of the finest outdoor apparel available. The Alpine Light ($125) speaks to their years of experience, and the overall merits are in its restrained design.

Instead of a belt, the pants fasten with a G-hook that sits off-center and catches on ladder webbing sewn into the waist. Both Arc’teryx and Seadon use a similar G-hook belt closure, but Black Diamond’s solution is the most secure implementation of the three.

The drawcord around the ankles locks into a slot, pinching the elastic cord. Unlike other pants with drawcords, you can’t pull it with one hand, but the concept is light and the most minimal setup we tested, significantly reducing bulk around the ankles.

For stretch and durability, the material is a combination of nylon and elastane, whose qualities start to shine once you veer off the map. Beyond the trail, you need pants that move with you, deflecting rock and scrub. That’s what terrain Black Diamond feels most comfortable in, and that’s where the Alpine Light delivers.

They have a four-way stretch woven fabric that is water resistant, lightweight, and incredibly durable for the weight, looking nearly new after months of testing.

The pants have five pockets (two hand and two rear drop-in pockets, with a fifth pocket on the lower right leg). The front pockets aren’t very deep, and the thigh pocket sits low against the knee. This is by design to stay clear of a climbing harness.

If you like to carry lots of items in your pant pockets — particularly a phone in that thigh pocket — this could be a dealbreaker. If the thigh pocket was better positioned, we would have awarded the Alpine Light our choice for the best hiking pant overall.

The Alpine Light is available in general sizes (S, M, L, and XL), with inseams scaling from 31.5 to 33.5 inches. The waist sizing trends small, so if you’re between sizes, we recommend sizing up.

We’ve been lucky to have the privilege of testing a wide array of hiking pants from KÜHL, and when we say it was hard to settle on a top pick — we mean it. Each pair we took for a spin impressed us on multiple fronts, but we narrowed in on the sleek and functional Radikl ($109) as our model of choice for this hiking guide. With a classic, stylish look for trotting around town and enough grit for serious trekking endeavors, these are some of our favorite crossover, do-it-all pants that keep worming their way into our packs, duffels, and carry-ons for all manner of adventures.

Wear ’em to work, or bomb down a scree slope in the backcountry — the Radikl has a classy vibe, but is packed with discrete, outdoor-ready features that make them power players when the mountains call. Slim stretch knit fabric panels below the knee, waist, back yoke, and gusset not only boost flexibility while bounding about, but afford adequate ventilation when you pick up the pace. You’d never know these vents existed until pulling the Radikl on, though, as they are the same color, and appear to have the same texture, as the rest of the pant’s Enduro performance fabric.

This tough, abrasion-resistant material mixes up a well-balanced batch of cotton, nylon, and spandex for a supremely durable — albeit noticeably weighty — force to be reckoned with. These quickly became our go-to pants for bush-bashing or boulder-hopping. Such thick, stalwart fabric comes at a cost though, and these don’t boast the best next-to-skin comfort compared to other pants on this list. They are also some of the heavier pants we tested, and we don’t bring these on fast and light missions where weight is of chief importance.

For front and backcountry style, though, these pants are hard to beat. Subtle side pockets for phones or an EDC knife ride along the thighs, and a muted brass “KÜHL” logo decorates the top of a thin coin pocket. These pants look pretty darn slick paired with a nice shirt tucked into a belt. Their “Free Ryde” waist follows the natural rise of your hips, which seems to move surprisingly well with you as you vault over blowdowns or navigate rock-strewn riverbeds.

The Radikls have a somewhat athletic fit through the thigh, but do flair out a bit more than we like in the lower leg. This is fine when wearing these on casual outings, but they tend to flap back and forth a tad while hiking, and we would prefer a slimmer cut (note: we tested the “Klassik Fit”. You can opt for a “Tapered Fit” option if ordering off of KÜHL’s site).

In short, these are some of our favorite pants in our closet, and we find ourselves wearing them for much more than just hiking. While they aren’t as light or performance-oriented as some on this list, they bring a rugged, stylish aesthetic to your outdoor wardrobe that only KÜHL can do.

Cramming down to roughly the size of a softball, the slim-fitting, mega-stretchy Rab Incline Light Pants ($95) should snag some real estate in any pack you load up for an adventure. At 7.9 ounces and under $100 — why wouldn’t you bring ’em along? But their allure doesn’t stop at weight and price. Boasting stellar mobility, phenomenal next-to-skin comfort, and a thoughtful design, these pants are ready for any number of wild escapades.

The long-length gusseted crotch affords more freedom of movement than most pants we tested, and has a unique design, extending down to just above the knee. Articulated knees contribute to these pants’ mobility, and we had little issue tackling technical terrain on long hikes or light bushwhacks. We love a slim fit in our hiking pants, but these are just a tad too slim in a few areas for our preference — namely around the thighs and hips. For folks with larger legs, we’d recommend sizing up.

We love how packable the Incline Lights are. They roll up to a minuscule size, and have consequently become some of our favorite “just in case” pants to throw in on any trip we find ourselves on. This isn’t to say they don’t rise to the task as standalone hiking pants in the backcountry, though, but their ultralight nature does dock some durability points. They won’t hold up to the same level of torture as beefier softshell models like the Helly Hansen Blaze listed below.

Two zippered side pockets, one zippered back pocket, and a single zippered thigh pocket round out its simple feature set — which is just about perfect for us. We appreciate having zippers on each pocket, as it means any trinket we tote around will stay secure while we bound about. We do wish that there were drawcord cuff adjustments, but Rab had to cut weight somehow.

As some of the lightest pants on this roundup, the Incline Lights will hold up to miles of wear and tear without weighing you down. They’ll disappear in your luggage as backup pants for longer trips, or serve you well as standalone workhorses on ultralight backpacking missions. Trust us — you won’t be disappointed.

These popular, affordable workhorses have been staples in the hiking and travel community for a while, and aren’t diminishing in popularity. During testing, we found the Patagonia Quandary Pants ($89) to be solid crossover pieces for backcountry performance and frontcountry style alike. Don’t let the low price tag and relatively thin fabric fool you — these pants can throw down, and hold up well to some serious torture on long hikes.

This model boasts some of our favorite features for hiking pants, with articulated knees, a gusseted crotch, breathable fabric, and a DWR coating with a 40+ UPF rating. For hot, big-mile days in the sun, these pants are ready for the task. We appreciate the flexibility they offer, but did feel like the fit was a bit tight around the waist and thighs. If you’ve been focusing on leg day in the gym, see if you can try these on first before whipping out your wallet.

Though there aren’t a lot of venting features on the Quandary Pants, the light, thin fabric felt more breathable than a lot of pants we tried, and there is a moisture-absorbing mesh liner at the waistband which helps keep sweat buildup at bay. A zippered pocket on the back, and small zippered thigh pocket help you safely stash essentials, which is adequate storage for what we used the pants for.

For hiking comfort in the mountains, or casual style around town, the Quandary Pants are a great versatile option for a variety of travel needs.

We’ve been wearing an original version of this pant for nearly 20 years, taking it rock climbing, mountaineering, bushwhacking, spring crud skiing, and cross-country running. The pocket zipper has pulled off, and the DWR has worn away, but the pant material is still — by nearly every measure — as good as new. They’re virtually bombproof.

The Gamma ($180) — previously known as the Gamma LT — has only improved in the years since its inception. Arc’teryx has put a cord inside the pant hem, updated the belt, and sewn in a thigh map pocket. It’s seen a recent upgrade in materials, but still brings four-way stretch with snag-proof protection. Only now they have a more comfortable skin-facing side.

Unfortunately, the price is nearly twice that of the other pants on the list. Breathability is low, and the fabric is fairly noisy. But these are acceptable sacrifices for more vertical endeavors, particularly hiking and climbing in wet conditions.

With a deeply-rooted cult following in the climbing world, the legendary Stretch Zion Pants II ($95) also just happen to excel on trail. One of the authors of this guide has had a pair of Stretch Zions since his sophomore year of college, and couldn’t begin to count the hundreds of miles or pitches he’s clocked in them. Aside from a small hole in the knee, they serve him well to this day.

With such a loyal following, the recently updated Zion II had big shoes to fill — and has been met with mixed reviews. Some praise the new breathable ReZion fabric, while others bemoan its thin shiny appearance and propensity for piling. The plastic button shaved some weight from the original metal one, but many have noted that it has broken on them after minimal use. We haven’t had ours for long enough to confirm or deny this, but we do miss the metal.

The new fabric is more flexible, lighter, and has a nice, soft feel to it. Perhaps most importantly, though, it is made with bluesign-approved, recycled nylon. We don’t notice an appreciable decrease in durability but haven’t been able to test them quite long enough to tell.

The left thigh zipper pocket is a handy touch, with double entry points that allow you to access contents while hiking or sitting with ease. Ventilated inseam gussets boost breathability and comfort while hiking or climbing, and a snap roll-up feature at the hem increases versatility. We found the fit to be a bit less flattering than previous iterations, however, and the lower legs flair out significantly.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, prAna’s Stretch Zions are back with an updated, more sustainable design. While we are still gauging the durability and functionality of the newest iteration, if previous Zions are any indication of these pants’ value, they deserve a spot on any hiking pants roundup.

At 7.5 ounces, Mammut’s Hiking Pants ($119) are the lightest hiking pants on the list. A lot of that weight can be chalked up to less material. While the waist feels true to size (even slightly large), the Alpine Lightweight Hikers taper through the legs.

Even though there’s some spandex woven into the material, they don’t offer as much mobility as other pants on the list. They tend to restrict the legs when, for instance, high-stepping over boulder fields.

The lightweight yarn breathes very well and is suitable for hot-weather hikes. With pockets constructed entirely of mesh, they work effectively as vents. Unfortunately, the ankles don’t have a drawcord to keep them pinned over the calves, so you’ll have to roll them up instead.

Treated with a robust DWR, water and spray roll off the fabric. And if they do get soaked, they dry out very quickly.

The hand pockets are shallow and tend to dump their contents when seated in the car. Fortunately, all three pockets are zipped.

While the pants have belt loops, they don’t come with a belt and run wider in the waist. This becomes more critical as you lose weight on long hikes or are wearing a pack.

Landing squarely on the opposite end of the weight and durability spectrum from Mammut’s ultralight pants above, the brawny Blaze Softshell Pants ($160) are for serious technical objectives, where a perfect balance of all-day comfort and bomb-proof performance is paramount. While these serve as fine hiking pants in mild conditions — chilly temps, tempestuous weather, and brutal terrain are the Blaze Pants’ bailiwick.

Burly features abound on these hardworking trousers, with a thick four-way stretch, articulated cuts, plenty of adjustability, and reinforced panels over high-use areas. To pay for these luxuries, we’re unfortunately awarded with the highest scale reading on this list. Despite their hefty weight, however, they pack down surprisingly small, and the degree of mobility they offer makes them feel much lighter than they are. These are consequently perfect picks for winter treks or light mountaineering objectives where lighter, more flimsy pants would tap out early.

Elasticated velcro adjustments at the hips and a zippered adjustment in the lower leg allow you to dial in the fit, or add insulating layers underneath. The lower leg zips tight for a snug, athletic fit if that’s your cup of tea (it is ours), or can splay open to accommodate beefy mountaineering boots or bulky layers if the need arises.

For such thick fabric, we were surprised at how well its four-way stretch and gusseted crotch moved with us, and we had little difficulty contorting our body while navigating dense blowdowns, or bounding from boulder to boulder. The abrasion-resistant fabric thwarts rips and tears better than most, giving us great confidence in thorny bushwhacks. Additionally, high-impact areas (like the pants’ instep) are reinforced with thicker materials.

Despite the high weight, the Blaze only has three pockets (two side, and one zippered thigh). We wish there were back pockets, and the zippered thigh pocket is positioned on the front of the thigh — which feels a bit uncomfortable when loaded up compared to pockets on the side of the thigh.

Our slight grumbles aside, we think these are some of the better softshell hybrid hiking/mountaineering pants on the market. Helly Hansen knows what they’re doing when it comes to technical adventure gear, and that thoughtful attention to detail is obvious in these trekking pants.

Reminiscent of our top pick, Outdoor Research’s Ferrosi Pants, the sleek Patagonia Terravia Trail Pants ($129) — previously known as the Altvia — are extremely comfortable, protective trekking pants for demanding missions in the mountains. Their polyester and spandex construction makes them some of the more cozy pants to trot around in, and despite their thicker fabric, they afford a shocking amount of flexibility.

Vaulting over blowdowns, or parkouring through boulder-strewn creek beds, they move with you seamlessly and protect you from thorns and underbrush. A straight-panel gusset and articulated legs enhance their mobility, and the flexibility extends to the waistband in these pants. They consequently have a somewhat jogger-like feel. The fabric is robust, which is a pro for protection from the elements, but a con in hot, muggy weather. It doesn’t have a lot of breathability or ventilation to speak of.

We took these pants on some serious bushwhacks while scoping out new climbing crags as well as off-trail side quests on backpacking trips, and while they held up well, we were surprised at the number of picks and loose strands that materialized after just a handful of excursions. We did put them through more torture than others given their reputation for above-average durability, so we can’t bash them too much on that front.

A grand total of five zippered pockets keep everything safe and sound while bounding about on trail, and we love the confidence these inspire. So many zippers do add some weight though, nudging these pants towards the heavier end of the spectrum.

The standard, straight fit of these pants hugged our legs comfortably without being constrictive, but we found the 31-inch inseam to be an odd choice. We prefer to have the options of 30 or 32-inches, as opposed to the 29 or 31-inch offerings of the Altvias. 30-inch fits our tester perfectly, and he found the 31-inch to be just a touch too long. We do appreciate the internal gussets and zippered fit of the cuff though, making it simple to slide these over various sizes of bulky boots.

Those qualms aside, we feel these relatively new pants from Patagonia offer state-of-the-art comfort with a functional, adventure-ready design. While they aren’t our first choice for toasty summer treks, we love them for colder journeys or hikes over rough, bushy terrain.